By Our Reporter Amid speculations about whether the ruling Nepali Congress could hold its general convention within the extended deadlines, the party has managed to hold ward level conventions in 64 districts and municipal level in 54 districts. Deepening factionalism and dispute over the active membership distribution had made the convention of the oldest democratic party uncertain until it started its ward level convention on September 3 when the party has finalized the active membership list of only 56 of the 77 districts. When the committee formed by the party to resolve the active membership failed to sort out the row over active membership in 21 districts even after the ward level convention began, many had suspected that the party would not be able to hold the central level convention in November. But now the party has resolved the dispute in 13 of the 21 districts and the party's Central Election Committee has sent the active membership lists of 69 districts to the district level election committee. While the ward level convention ended in 64 districts and municipal level in 54 districts, the party has further decided to hold the district level convention in 21 Himalayan districts by October 4. As everything has gone as planned, especially after the ward level convention began, the NC is likely to hold its all eight-level convention—from ward to central level by November 29. Although in many wards the party representatives were elected unanimously with an encouraging number of youths, elections were held to select the leadership in the municipal level committee. However, it is still uncertain as to whose factions succeeded to elect more representatives. Only after the conclusion of the Constituency (House of Representatives) level, a clear picture could be derived because the central level representatives are elected by the constituency level convention. However, party president and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is likely to be elected party president for the second term as the rival faction has failed to find a common candidate. Although Deuba has already been challenged by his two previous aides — Bimalendra Nidhi and Gopalman Shrestha, the rival faction led by Ram Chandra is likely to have at least four candidates for the top posts. Kiran Gurung and Prakash Man Singh have already announced their candidacy, and Dr Shekhar Koirala and Shashank Koirala and even Krishna Sitaula are also likely to join the fray. If all four candidates from the Paudel camp vie for the top post, Deuba is sure to win in the second round of voting. Government repeals ordinance after its mission of splitting UML succeeds President Bidya Devi Bhandari has repealed the ordinance relating to political parties (second amendment), 2021 after the government accomplished its mission of splitting the CPN-UML. A press statement issued by the Office of President on Monday, said, "As per the decision of the meeting of Council of Ministers held on September 27 and recommendation made by the Prime Minister, President Bhandari has withdrawn the ordinance relating to political parties." The ordinance was discarded in line with Article 114 (2) (b) of the Constitution. On August 18, the President had issued the ordinance to amend the Political Parties Act, 2017, and ease the split of parties on the recommendation of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The ordinance was issued to ease Madhav Kumar Nepal to form a new party by splitting the CPN-UML, which he succeeded by forming CPN (Unified Socialist. However, the ordinance came as a big relief to Mahantha Thakur and Rajendra Mahato, who also form Loktantrik Samajwadi Party by breaking the Janata Samajwadi Party. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had to agree to cancel the Ordinance after Upendra Yadav, chairman of Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal, reportedly was not ready to join the government fearing another split in his part, because many of those who could not get the post of ministers could form a new party based on the ordinance. However, Madhav Kumar Nepal was in favour of giving continuity to the ordinance. UML chairman KP Oli had criticized the government for repealing the ordinance. He strongly objected to the decisions and said that the withdrawal of the ordinance proved that it was brought only to split the CPN-UML. Obviously, the ordinance was issued on August 18 for Madhav Kumar Nepal, and now when Nepal broke the UML, the relevance of the ordinance ended and the ruling parties decided to withdraw it to prevent any split in their party. Cabinet to get complete shape after 80 days of its formation If all goes as planned, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is likely to expand the Cabinet formed on July 13. In over two and a half months, the Prime Minister managed to add only to ministers—Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka and State Minister Umesh Shrestha—in his five-member Cabinet formed on July 13. As Madhav Kumar Nepal of the CPN (Unified Socialist) was not ready to join the government without ensuring that his party could get legal recognition and Upendra Yadav of the Janata Samajwadi Party without ensuring that his party would not suffer a split, the Cabinet expansion was delayed by months. Now that the Nepal-led communist party got recognition and the government repealed the ordinance, the two parties are ready to join the government. It is said that both the parties will have five ministers and one state minister each while the Maoist centre will have six ministers and the NC seven. As constitutionally, the Cabinet should not exceed 25 members, the coalition parties are under pressure to adjust their lawmakers in the Cabinet. Still, the Unified Socialist and JSP-N are reportedly bargaining for important ministries, causing a further delay in the expansion. However, the Cabinet is likely to be expanded by Wednesday or Thursday.